I ruined a pair of four-thousand peso Aldo heels in exactly twelve minutes back in 2019. It wasn’t even a major flood—just one of those sudden BGC downpours where the drainage decides to take a collective nap. I was running from High Street to the parking lot, and by the time I got to my car, the faux-suede was a soggy, gray mess and the sole was peeling off like a bad sunburn. I cried a little in the driver’s seat. Not because of the money, okay maybe a little because of the money, but because I realized I was dressed for a life I wasn’t actually living. I was dressed for a Pinterest board, not for the humidity and the cracked sidewalks of Metro Manila.
The sneaker lie we all believe
Everyone says you need white sneakers. It’s the “essential” item, right? But nobody tells you that keeping white sneakers white in this country is a full-time job that I am not qualified for. I’ve tested six different pairs of “lifestyle” sneakers over the last three years, tracking how the soles hold up against the literal grit of the MRT stairs. Most of them fail within eight months. The glue just gives up because of the heat. What I mean is—actually, let me put it differently. It’s not the heat, it’s the friction of walking three kilometers a day because the Grab prices are insane.
I used to think Converse were the GOAT for Pinoy commuting. I was completely wrong. My lower back started screaming at me by the time I hit thirty. Zero arch support. It’s like strapping two pieces of canvas to a pancake and hoping for the best. If you are over 25 and still wearing Chucks to walk around Makati all day, I genuinely don’t know how your spine hasn’t exited your body yet.
If you want a sneaker that actually survives, get the New Balance 530s or the 2002Rs. I’ve logged 212 commutes in my 530s and the mesh hasn’t even started to fray. They are ugly-cool, which is the only kind of cool that matters when it’s 34 degrees outside.
Anyway, I was talking to my friend the other day about how we all just collectively decided that New Balance is the “it” shoe now, and she reminded me that five years ago, we would have called these “pepe shoes.” It’s funny how marketing works. But honestly? My feet don’t care about the irony. They just want the foam.
I hate Birkenstocks and I’m tired of pretending
I know people will disagree, and I’ll probably get some angry comments from the “but the cork molds to your feet!” crowd, but I hate them. They look like orthopedic bread. There, I said it. I refuse to recommend them even though every Tita in Alabang owns three pairs. They are heavy, they make a weird slapping sound when you walk, and if they get wet in a puddle? Forget it. They smell like a damp basement for a week. Total waste of money.
If you need a sandal that isn’t a flip-flop, just buy a pair of Salt-Waters. I’ve had mine since 2021. I’ve worn them into the actual ocean in La Union and then wore them to a meeting in Ortigas the next day. They are indestructible. The leather is treated with some kind of witchcraft that doesn’t crack when it gets soaked. They are thin, though. Don’t expect to hike in them. But for surviving a rainy Tuesday? Perfect.
The work shoe struggle is mostly a scam
Let’s talk about “office appropriate” shoes. This is where most women in the Philippines get tricked into buying those cheap, plastic-y flats from malls that give you blisters within twenty minutes. I call them “disposable flats.” You know the ones. They cost 600 pesos and smell like chemicals.
- Butterfly Twists: Okay, these are actually decent because they fold up. I keep a pair in my bag for when my “main” shoes betray me.
- VIVAIA: I thought these were just Instagram bait, but I bought a pair of their pointed flats. They’re made of recycled plastic bottles or something. They actually breathe. In our humidity, that is a godsend.
- Naturalizer: This is my Tita era peaking, but their heels are the only ones I can wear for more than two hours without wanting to saw my feet off.
I once wore a pair of unbranded, stiff stilettoes to a wedding in Intramuros. If you’ve ever tried to walk on those 400-year-old cobblestones in four-inch heels, you know it’s basically like trying to play Jenga with your ankles. I ended up walking barefoot to the reception. I looked insane. My soles were black with soot. Never again.
The “Baha” factor
We have to talk about rain. Not the “oh it’s drizzling” rain, but the “I am currently standing in a soup of street water” rain. Most people go for Crocs. I get it. They’re functional. But I find them incredibly depressing to look at.
I’ve been wearing Melissa shoes for the rainy season. Yes, they are made of rubber. Yes, they smell like bubblegum which is kind of weird for a grown woman. But you can literally hose them down after walking through a puddle and they look brand new. The only downside is the sweat. Walking in Manila is like navigating a wet frying pan, and when you put rubber shoes on, your feet are basically steaming. It’s gross. But it’s better than ruined suede.
I might be wrong about this, but I think the obsession with “branded” heels is dying out in Manila. We’re all just too tired. We’re all just trying to get from Point A to Point B without needing a foot transplant. I see more women in the CBD wearing Hoka runners with their slacks than I see wearing pumps. And honestly? Good for us.
I still haven’t found the perfect shoe. I don’t think it exists. You either get something that looks amazing but kills you, or something that looks like a marshmallow but makes you feel like you’ve given up on life. Maybe the middle ground is just accepting that our shoes will always be a little bit dusty and our heels will always have a few nicks from the sidewalk cracks.
Just don’t buy the Birkenstocks. Seriously.
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